Iraq War UpdatesIsrael searches for dead soldiers remains: "Hundreds of Israeli troops fanned out along the Egyptian border Thursday to search for remains of five comrades killed in the bombing of a military vehicle, while Israeli missile strikes on a Palestinian refugee camp killed 11 people and wounded 29 others."

Rumsfeld Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq: "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, making a surprise visit to Iraq aimed at containing the prisoner abuse scandal, said Thursday administration lawyers are advising the Pentagon not to publicly release any more photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by U.S. soldiers. (AP)"

Gunfire erupted across Baghdad and tracer bullets lit the night sky last night, but this was not war, it was joy. Iraq's young footballers have qualified for their first Olympics. [?] The final home game of the qualifying tournament against Saudi Arabia was played in Amman, the capital of neighbouring Jordan. Fans glued to television screens erupted in traditional Iraqi manner, blasting Kalashnikov rifles and machine guns into the air when Hawar Taher made it 3-1 a minute from time. Carloads of men drove crazily round Baghdad, horns blaring. [?] Qualification looked unlikely after a shaky run that left both Iraq and the Saudis able to go through only if it ended level between Kuwait and Oman in Kuwait City. A 0 -0 draw there sent Iraq to Athens ahead of Oman, who finished level on points.

TIKRIT, Iraq - Task Force Danger Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery, detained an Iraqi Army soldier after finding sketches of a Coalition base in his possession during a shakedown inspection around 2 p.m. May 11. The Iraqi soldier was taken to a Coalition detention facility for questioning.

Strengthen The Good Update: "My God. We're a third of the way there. Between my post of last night and now, Command Post readers have raised over $3,400 for the Tom Family Education Trust. Thank you to those who have given from the heart so far (many of you giving $50 or even $100), and thanks to the bloggers who have linked to the original post (and in particular, Glenn , who sent an Instalanche our way earlier today). I also sent a note to Susan Tom, and here's her reply (used with her permission):

Wow, I'm impressed and awed! Who are you and what's a blogger? I being the computer idiot know barely enough to get around the email. Did you think this up, because this is awesome. Susan, mom of many

I love the signature line: "Susan, mom of many." Indeed. I'll get to work on explaining to Susan what a blogger is, but when it comes to "who are you," I'm not taking any credit ? instead, I'm going to let her know that she has over 115 individuals around the world to thank ? 115 people who decided that a damn fine way to react to evil was to strengthen something good. But consider this: as of this posting, today the Command Post has been visited 20,007 times. Of those visits, 115 people have made a donation, and from those 115 people, we'll contribute over $3,400 to the education of these remarkable kids. 115 out of 20,000. I gotta tell you, we still have a huge opportunity to strengthen the good. I know many folks couldn't read us for a time ? that Instalanche freaked out our HostingMatters server for a while, but the wonderful, fantastic, spectacular HostingMatters staff are moving us to a new server tonight with dual xeon 2.4gig processors that should, in the words of Stacy , "haha at your puny mortal blog." So keep the ball rolling. If you haven't seen the original post, read it here . If you came by earlier but the page wouldn't load, consider making a contribution now. If you made a contribution already, consider emailing the link to everyone in your contact list who you think might want to help strengthen something good. If you're a blogger who reads Command Post, consider linking to the original post on your own site. All day long we get emails about a way to help someone in need that Snopes tells us are false: here's your chance to make a difference by sending others something real. We'll keep posting updates, and I'll continue to post our correspondence with Susan Tom. She's utterly beside herself with what, to her, is a totally unexpected, completely random act of kindness. If that doesn't serve as an appropriate response to the totally unexpected, completely random act of evil we saw yesterday, I don't know what does. 1/3 of the way there ? keep the momentum ? let's help send these kids to college. Click the button below, and if you don't use PayPal or want to use your credit/debit card, you may mail a check to:

The Tom Family Education Trust P.O. Box 2236 Fairfield, Ca. 94533

If you do send a check, please email me at alan at command-post dot org so I can keep track of participation and contributions. Thank you again for helping to strengthen the good.

Bomb Reported At Italian Embassy in Baghdad: "Fox News reports that an explosion has occurred at the Italian embassy in Baghdad. Their correspondent in Baghdad cites a Reuters report as well. It happened in the afternoon and there are no injuries reported. Story Developing?Will post link momentarily."

The young Iraqi cleric leading a month-old Shiite uprising against US occupation says he is prepared to disband his militia army. However, with a now familiar ambivalence, Moqtada al-Sadr also told a rare news conference at Islam's holiest Shiite shrine he still opposes a US -led occupation he likens to the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein. It was hard to separate face-saving bravado from hard bargaining during the young firebrand's first personal comment on talks in the holy city of Najaf. Under mounting pressure from rivals in the Shiite establishment and from US forces on the ground, his aides had already pencilled in their agreement to a deal that could end the insurgency.

Four Filipino workers have been killed in Iraq in a mortar attack on a United States military camp, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said. The contractors were among more than 1,360 Filipinos working at Camp Anaconda in Balad. Another Filipino worker was killed by attackers in Iraq at the end of April. The Philippines, a staunch ally of Washington, also has about 100 police, soldiers and medical personnel assisting in reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

United States troops, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles, have killed up to 25 militiamen loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in fierce fighting in the holy Shiite city of Karbala, a senior US military officer said. Locals said the fighting erupted on Tuesday evening (local time) and was still going on as dawn broke, with members of Sadr's Mehdi Army militia holed up in a mosque and surrounded by US forces. A senior US official in Baghdad said 20 to 25 militiamen were killed and seven American soldiers were wounded.

A relative of mine was forced as the millions of Iraqis to serve in Saddam's army. He was poor and peaceful and couldn't stand the humiliation and the torture that service meant. He lived in Baghdad and served in Basrah. He was paid about 10 thousand Iraqi Dinars a month, which equaled about 5 US $ at that time, while the ride from his place to his unit cost about 2 or 3 thousand Dinars. Above all he had to bribe the sergeants and the officers only to avoid the hell they could make his life there, as they could've made it a lot worse. Others more fortunate paid money to the officer in charge to stay at home and the officer would arrange it to look like they are serving. This may amount to 250-300 thousand Iraqi Dinars a month, and it was a very common practice at that time. And as tens of thousands of Iraqis, he decided to run away. He remained a fugitive for years, hiding from the eyes of the military police. He couldn't see his family more than 2 or 3 times in the year. We helped him find a job and a place to hide where they couldn't find him. Few days ago I was visiting his family to pay our respect in the 1st annual anniversary of his father's death. When I saw my relative, and despite the nature of the occasion, I felt happy. Here's a free man. I smiled as I said, " you must be very happy to be free again, and not fear the MP ". He said, " you can't imagine! It's like being born again. I've never felt so free before ". " But what are you doing for a living now? I hope you've found a job ". I asked. He smiled as he said, " I volunteered in the new army ". " Really! I thought you'd never wear a uniform after that terrible experience " he replied " Oh no, this is entirely different ". I said, " I'm sure it is, but who convinced you to do so!? And when did that happen?" " A friend of mine who volunteered before I did told me some nice stuff that encouraged me to do the same, so I volunteered about a couple of months ago ". He replied. " So tell me about it, are you happy with this job?" I asked. ] " You can't imagine! It's nothing that we've learned or knew about the military life". He answered. " I expected it to be so, but can you tell me about it" I asked and I didn't have to ask anymore, as my relative started talking excitedly without a stop.

Pentagon Won't Release More Abuse Photos: "Bush administration lawyers are advising the Pentagon not to publicly release any more photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by U.S. soldiers, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at the outset of a hastily arranged visit to Iraq aimed at containing the abuse scandal. (AP)"

Inquiry 'will show photos are fake': "The Government is expected to say that newspaper pictures of British troops allegedly abusing Iraqi prisoners are fake, according to sources at the Ministry of Defence."

Abuses in Iraq highlight standards for treatment: "The Geneva Conventions were born on a bloody battlefield in northern Italy in June 1859 after a Swiss businessman witnessed the suffering of 40,000 soldiers sick or wounded in fighting between French and Austrian forces in the Battle of Solferino. (Chicago Tribune)"

U.S.: Berg Had Been Advised to Leave Iraq: "An American civilian who was beheaded in a grisly video posted on an al-Qaida-linked Web site had been warned to leave Iraq but refused, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The masked men who butchered him claimed they were angered by coalition abuses of Iraqi prisoners. (AP)"

Senators To See New Abuse Pics: "The Senate will get a closed-door screening of previously unreleased photographs and at least one video of Iraqi detainee abuse. No word on when ? or if ? the public will see them."

Syria criticizes sanctions, seeks talks: "The Syrian and Lebanese governments criticized a U.S. decision imposing sanctions on Syria as wrong and unfair, but Syria said it still seeks dialogue with President Bush's administration."

Iraq's Sadr Defiant But Says May Disband Militia: "Rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtadaal-Sadr vowed Wednesday to press on with his fight against theU.S.-led occupation of Iraq but said he would disband his MehdiArmy militia if Shi'ite leaders asked him to. (Reuters)"

Iraq War NewsJordan court convicts 3 of conspiracy: "A military court Monday convicted three Muslim militants, including the nephew of a top al-Qaida suspect, of conspiring to attack American and Israeli tourists in Jordan and sentenced each to three years in jail."

US soldier's court-martial will be 'transparent' says Kimmitt: "The deputy director of US military operations in Iraq, Mark Kimmitt, vowed that the public court-martial this month of a low-ranking US soldier over the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib detention center will be "transparent." (AFP)"

A bomb went off Sunday at a Baghdad (search) hotel used by foreign contractors. A hotel employee said the blast ripped through the bar and wounded six people described as British and Nepalese nationals. The extent of their wounds was not yet known.

First GI faces court-martial over abuse: "Stung by a worldwide outcry, the U.S. military Sunday announced the first court-martial in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse allegations, ordering a reservist to face a public trial in Baghdad on May 19."

AP: Army drops brigade from medal list: "The prisoner abuse scandal has so tarnished the Army's 800th Military Police Brigade that soldiers slated to receive an Army Bronze Star medal have been dropped from the list, the brigade's commander, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, said Sunday."

?On The Edge? In Iraq: "A Republican senator and a senior general warn that the United States risks defeat in Iraq, and blame Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. An influential military newspaper is calling for his resignation."

Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits of Hyndman, Pa., a member of the 372nd Military Police Company, will stand trial in Baghdad on May 19, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. Sivits has been charged with conspiracy to maltreat subordinates and detainees, dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse and cruelty and maltreatment of detainees, Kimmitt said.

"We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your
oppressors," Bush said, addressing Iraqis who might be
listening from afar. "We are coming to bring you food and
medicine and a better life. And we are coming and we will
not stop, we will not relent until your country is free."
We are very proud of you,Keep your helmet on!

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